Royal Court of college students key to Derby buildup

The Royal Court -- comprised of college students -- plays a big role as ambassadors in the annual celebrations and events leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

The Royal Court blow kisses of gratitude to their security guard Mike Patterson, who has been serving in this role for 13 years.(Photo: Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court)

Story Highlights

The Kentucky Derby Festival, an annual tradition of more than 70 events in celebration of the Derby, engulfs Louisville

Symbolic helm of the Festival is a Royal Court, comprised of college students

Court is charged with promoting the fact that the Derby is more than just a horse race

With the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, the horses and their jockeys are gearing up for the first of the three legs of the Triple Crown, and while what has been called "the most exciting two minutes in sports" are ticking closer, the annual celebrations surrounding what in effect is a state holiday in Kentucky have been long underway.

The Kentucky Derby Festival, an annual tradition of more than 70 events in celebration of the Derby, engulfs the host city of Louisville in the days leading up to the big race and includes such diverse cultural activities as a marathon, hot air balloon races and Thunder Over Louisville, a fireworks show so large and loud that local hospitals report higher levels of women going into labor during the show.

At the symbolic helm of all these events stands a Royal Court, a group college students chosen via a lengthy application process to become one of the five Derby princesses -- one of whom is chosen as queen.

"Being in the Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court allows us to be an ambassador for the city of Louisville and the state of Kentucky. We are at over 70 events providing smiling faces and serving as the face of Kentucky Derby Festival," said Festival Queen Cameryn Jones, a senior food science major at the University of Kentucky.

Members of the Royal Court attend Derby Festival events while juggling busy school schedules. Dominique Luster, a junior theater major at the University of Kentucky, arranged with her professors to take all of her finals on the same day in order to fulfill her Derby Week duties.

Chelsea Diamond, a junior exercise science major at Transylvania University, also made the hour-long trip from Derby events in Louisville to attend her morning class in Lexington, Ky. -- then making a return trip to the Derby City later that day for for more activities.

For the Court, the intense schedule is worth it and allows them to pass on an important message.

(Photo: Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court)

"One of the things I've learned in this process is that being a princess is not just about being a pretty face," Luster said. "We're all very involved in extracurricular activities and we're all very involved students. It is a complete, well-rounded package and I think it is really important to share that message with little girls and others who may look up to us."

Among other tasks, the Court is charged with promoting the many Derby Festival events and to show that the Kentucky Derby is more than just a horse race.

All of the events are open to the public with the purchase of a $5 festival pin. Events -- including the KDF Marathon -- draw thousands of participants and spectators, raising what organizers project to be $127.9 million for the surrounding area.

Derby Princess Allison Grant, a sophomore biology major at the University of Louisville, described a quick response from the event staff to reassess security measures and to reassure festivalgoers.

"Everyone throughout the festival immediately went into a press conference (after the bombings in Boston) to address the community concerns, and wanted the community to feel safe. And I know, especially for Derby, they are increasing security," Grant said.

The increased security isn't expected to deter attendance, though, and the festival events still will involve thousands of participants.

"People just kind of like to be in the presence of such a large gathering of people. Around this time the entire state of Kentucky, particularly Louisville, is all happy," Jones said.